Proof that people keep using terrible passwords, WhatsApp is now completely free to use, AOL is considering changing its name, Valve approves of a fan-made Half-Life game, and The Boy With a Camera for a Face.

The Most Popular Passwords of 2015

People are still using really bad passwords to secure online accounts, despite constant advice to the contrary. As reported by Engadget, SplashData has revealed its list of the worst passwords of 2015, drawn from the 2 million passwords that leaked last year.

The sets of contiguous numbers are dumb for obvious reasons, and single words without any numbers are never going to be particularly secure. And then there are the likes of “password,” “qwerty,” and “letmein,” which surely only people two sandwiches short of a picnic would use.

As these passwords all belonged to accounts that were hacked or otherwise compromised, these are essentially the most popular bad passwords. Suffice to say anyone who wants to stay safe online should avoid using these under any and all circumstances.

WhatsApp Is Now Free for Everybody

WhatsApp, the insanely popular messaging app with almost 1 billion users worldwide, is now completely free to use. Previously, WhatsApp charged users 99 cents per year after the first 12 months. However, the company has now decided against charging a subscription fee.

If WhatsApp charges companies for the privilege of connecting with its 1 billion-strong userbase then it could make even more money than it has already. And us, as mere users, get to use the app free and without ads. Which can’t be a bad deal. The move to free will occur over the next few weeks.

“I actually don’t think there’s a bad choice, but we have to make the choice. Are we going to keep the AOL brand or are we going to bring a new brand to market? If you ask me today, I could say, ‘I feel very strongly about the AOL brand. It has a lot of legacy and meaning, and we shouldn’t move away from it!’ But if we met tomorrow, I could be like, ‘Yes! We need a new name!’ It’s a very hard needle to thread for us.”

Prospekt started out as Seabrook’s job application to Valve. However, while he didn’t land the gig as a level designer, Seabrook did secure approval for the game. Therefore, Prospekt uses assets from Half-Life 2, making it look and feel like it belongs in the series.

Prospekt is a standalone game which continues the story of Adrian Shephard, the U.S. Marine from Half-Life: Opposing Force. For the princely sum of $10, Seabrook is promising 13 new levels and a storyline “comparable to Half-Life 2: Episode One in length”. Which can’t be bad.

Your Views on Today’s Tech News

How do you choose and manage your passwords? Are you more likely to use WhatsApp now that it’s free? What do you associate with the AOL brand? Are you interested in this new Half-Life sequel? What did you think of The Boy With a Camera for a Face?

Let us know your thoughts on the Tech News of the day by posting to the comments section below. Because a healthy discussion is always welcome.

Tech News Digest is a daily column paring the technology news of the day down into bite-sized chunks that are easy to read and perfect for sharing.